Our Programme
Following government advice, from March 17th 2020, all meetings of the Stonehouse History Group at Park Junior School Hall were cancelled.
We hope to resume our normal programme as soon as we can. We will update you when we have any news.
Meanwhile we are continuing with virtual meetings via Zoom.
Zoom Meetings will normally be on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7.30 pm unless otherwise notified.
We have no meetings arranged for July and August at the moment until we know more about Covid regulations
Provisional -TO BE CONFIRMED
Wednesday September 8th 2021 at 7.30 pm at Park Junior School Hall
Kim Baker and her father Robert (Bruce) Baker
“Happy Land”
Kim will read poems from her book “Happy Land” based on her father’s memories of life in Avenue Terrace (known as Happy Land or Happylands).
They will tell the family stories behind the poems and talk about the Baker family in Stonehouse.
Past Events 2020 – 2021
Wednesday June 9th at 7.30 pm
The history of Stroud Brewery
a presentation by Marion Hearfield (of Stroud Local History Society)
Marion told the story of the brewery from when it started in 1760 at Lippiatt to when it was closed in the 1960s.
Thursday May 13th 7.30 pm
Philip Wilkinson
High Street histories
The British have long been known as ‘a nation of shopkeepers’ and the history of shops and shopping in England is long and enthralling. Drawing on the research he did for his book Turn Back Time: The High Street, Philip Wilkinson tells the colourful story of England’s high streets from the elegance of the Georgian period, via the showmanship of Victorian shopkeepers, to the beginning of the 20th century. Shops from all these periods can still be found on our high streets, and their architecture has much to tell us about the people who owned them and their customers.
Find out more about Philip Wilkinson here
April 14th 2021 at 7.30 pm
The Misses Kimmins’ School
a presentation by Pauline Stevens (of Stroud Local History Society)
and
Nurses at Standish VAD Hospital
a presentation by Shirley Dicker and Vicki Walker
Click here to view a recording on YouTube
March 10th 2021 at 7.30 pm
John Peters
Six stages of separation and stories of the Cold War
John talked about the connections between well known people in history and his own family.
February 10th 2021 at 7.30 pm
Short Talks and Quiz
Click here to view a recording of these talks on YouTube
John Peters A Day in History (WW2 in Tetbury)
John talked about the preparations for possible German invasion in Tetbury during World War Two and how a family photo became a unique record of wartime actions.
Jim Dickson Pillboxes along the Stroudwater canal in Stonehouse
Jim outlined the story of the pillboxes, what they were for, where they were built and what has happened to them after the war and today.
8.20 Stonehouse Quiz
January 25th 2021 at 7.30 pm
Short talks and Quiz
Programme
Nick Peters The First Ironworker in America
John Berkeley from Gloucestershire became one of the first ironworkers on the other side of the Atlantic. Nick gave a short history of the event, the background behind his research and his aims for the future.
Shirley Dicker Sir Henry Winston of Standish Court.
Shirley Dicker has been researching her family history for ten years. She talked about some of her ancestors who lived at Standish Court and her link to Winston Churchill.
Vicki Walker The History of the Post Office in Stonehouse
An overview of the various locations of the Post Office
Stonehouse Picture Quiz Part Two
December 14th 2020
Short Talks and Quiz
Programme
Jim Dickson The origin of the Ocean (on the Stroudwater canal near Stonehouse Court)
Steve Mills A strange journey from the Bristol Channel to Eastington.
The story of an industrialist and his family’s interesting journey from Somerset to Eastington via the island of Steep Holm.
Janet Hudson Graft and Craft – Some beautiful objects crafted from wood
Picture Quiz
November 30th 2020
Val Kirby
Landscapes of Wool and Water
If you missed this talk you may request a pdf of Val’s presentation. email us at info@stonehousehistorygroup.org.uk
October 19th 2020
Vicki Walker
Some History of the Pubs in Stonehouse
We are very grateful to the Arboricultural Association for sponsoring and arranging this webinar for us.
Click here to view a recording of this talk
September 9th 2020
John Parker
The history and importance of trees in Stonehouse.
On September 9th at 7.30 pm the Arboricultural Association hosted a free live webinar for the Stonehouse History Group. Technical Director John Parker delivered a presentation about the trees of Stonehouse, looking at the history of the town through trees and focusing on some of the best specimens in the area. This was a great opportunity to learn more about some of the fantastic trees – and the interesting social history – in Stonehouse.
We are very grateful to the Arboricultural Association for sponsoring and arranging this webinar for us
A link to a recording of this webinar is also on the Arboricultural Association website